The firearm you killed your first big game animal with??

[obsessed1]

Parker hale .308. shot my first black bear ( problem critter) off my yard, and my first deer (mule buck ) at 400 yds. Killed a bunch of critters with that gun now my younger brother has it.

[Big Sky]

Tang safety Ruger m77 in 300 WinMag. Spring bear north of Fox Creek.

It was a blustery day with the wind blowing down the cutline towards me. The bear was facing into the wind so there was no shot. I remember how the wind moved his fur like a wave when the bear turned 180 degrees to look in my direction. When he turned again, this time giving me a broadside shot, I dropped him from about 150yds.

I still have the Ruger. I'll never forget how the bear's fur moved in the wind.
Nice thread.

[Pathfinder76]

[traderal]

Schultz and Larsen 68DL 308 Norma magnum with a B&L 2 1/2 to 8x scope in Kuharsky adjustable mount back in in 1966, 525 yd off hand heart shot. Total fluke.

[Bushleague]

Killed this moose with the Lee Enfield No1 in the picture, I dont think there is a date still visible on that one, but I think its a fair bit older than my other LE's that were all0 made around 1917 ish.

PA110231 by , on Flickr

Wife killed this buck with a Swedish Mauser of about the same vintage.

002_zps4b58a1a0 (1) by , on Flickr

My main rifles are a pair of 50's-60's era Husqvarna carbines, couldnt even guess at how many animals I've killed with them, and still counting.

PA080253 by , on Flickr

DSCF1216 by , on Flickr

Not sure how old this TC Hawken is, probably about the same age as the Husky's. It was factory drilled for a Lyman peep sight, which I've been told means that it was a pretty early one.

PB170070 by , on Flickr

[Bushleague]

Whoops wrong thread.

[1886]

Model 2100 midland in 270 was my first rifle I owned and used

[Twobucks]

Nice basket WT buck with a 1966 Browning Safari in 7RM. My grandfather shot a Stone and a Dall with it. My dad shot an elk in the mountains with it and a whole bunch of other things in between.

Oldest for me: my first grouse and later my first blue grouse (also my dogs first retrieve) with a Winchester model 12 bought in 1936 in New York City for $50. That gun has killed at least two moose and a mountain of ducks over the years. Beat to hell, ugly as can be, but still completely priceless to me.

[Savage Bacon]

Mulie doe with a Ruger American in 7-08. I stood over it for a few minutes with my knife in hand wondering what the heck do I do now. Everything worked out.

Sent from my BAH2-W19 using Tapatalk

[Stinky Buffalo]

Remington 700 BDL in .308, borrowed from a dear friend.

We were on an elk hunt, and had a deer tag in my pocket when a nice buck stepped out into the cutline, where I was sitting on a stump. My largest deer to date.

I think my friend was a little choked that I got a deer with that rifle before he did. I'm forever in his debt for sacrificing that privilege!

[1899b]

Originally Posted by Bushleague

Whoops wrong thread.

Those are awesome pics. Thanks for that!!!!!

[1899b]

Great stories guys i really enjoy reading these....

[JohninAB]

I used a Savage 99CD in 308 with a Bushnell Banner 4x scope I got for Christmas when I was 14 way back in 76. First animal harvested was a whitetail doe all by myself when I was 18.

Gun holds a special place in my cabinet to this day.

[Ceska]

Always hunted alone from the get go.
First harvest was with a Husqvarna 30-06 using 180 grain (a bit overkill)

The adrenaline was so high, I hit him in the spine , his back legs were gone out under him . I could see him bobbing up and down above the alder brush but going no where . Second shot in neck within seconds of the first did the job.

[6.5 shooter]

Eddystone P17 sporterized 30-06, military peep and winged front sight with Imperial 180 gr. PSP. Mule deer at about 150 yards. Hated that rifle, kicked like a mule, but it killed stuff.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by 6.5 shooter

Eddystone P17 sporterized 30-06, military peep and winged front sight with Imperial 180 gr. PSP. Mule deer at about 150 yards. Hated that rifle, kicked like a mule, but it killed stuff.

Oh now, the 1917 and P14's don't recoil THAT BAD - I was hunting hephalumps with one when I was just a wee shaver!!
Cat

[Glion]

First ever was a little buck on a Remington 700 sendero in 300wm. I still have the gun and it was my first rifle, I always had a love affair with it. Now after hunting years with it and packing it through the bush everywhere I have semi retired it. I hate packing that sucker when I am hoofing it.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by 1899b

Great stories guys i really enjoy reading these....

Great idea for a thread. Really enjoying it.

[fordtruckin]

MD doe with a Weatherby Vanguard in 3006 was first "big game" animal. First birds were pigeons flushed from a barn with a single shot Cooey 12g. Most memorable (pleasant) was a MD buck with a Marlin Glenfield in 35 Remington. Most memorable (unpleasant) was a 420# grizzly that charged after mauling a neighbor and I was under gunned with a 12g and slugs.

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

Oh now, the 1917 and P14's don't recoil THAT BAD - I was hunting hephalumps with one when I was just a wee shaver!!
Cat

Stock weighs as much as you did ... LOL nice photo don't see many like that nowadays.

[Mr Conservation]

Nice 4 x 4 muley with a Ruger M77 in .270 topped with a Weaver 2.5 x 7 scope.

Deer jumped out right in front of me on a cutline - shot instinctively and put a round through the back of the head - pure outhouse luck

Would never ever be able to duplicate that shot in a million years !!

Mr Conservation

[bushlover]

First big game animal was a small button buck Blacktail on Vancouver Island. Used dad's double barrel 12 GA with double aught buck. Was sitting on a downed log when I pulled the trigger. Recoil blew me over the log and on to my back. Dad came up and we couldn't find the deer. Dad asked where I was when I shot so I went back to the log and the button buck was right behind it. Wasn't very big but sure was proud for a 12 year old.

[303 Hunter]

The rifle I killed my first big game animal with is a No.4 mkI* Lee Enfield (ww2 era rifle). It was a whitetail doe about 180 yards or so.
Still have it, though it now has a new Criteria barrel and wears a L42 A1 sniper rifle stock.

[Cooeylover]

Marlin 336c, 35 Remington 200gr Remington core lok, in the back of the neck at 50 yards in the bush, off the shoulder shot.

[1899b]

Nice to see this thread still has some legs to it. Once again thank you for these stories and recollections fellas..

[300 win magB]

A little spike white tail at about 200 yards with my BLR in 308 was a pretty exciting morning. I have shot lots of animals since then bit I will always remember that one.

[Mayhem42]

Naka Creek circa mid 80’s

[threeforthree]

Originally Posted by 1899b

Sometimes it’s nice to reminisce a bit. 35 years ago I shot my first big animal (whitetail) with a Remington 760 in .30-06. It was given to me by my Father who first received it from his Father. It’s also part of a Remington set that was handed down to me with the .30-06. Do you still have your first big game rifle or know it’s whereabouts?

Meet the Trombone sisters lol:

Still shoot the exact rifle...buddies always said you bringing the Mexican wallet again because of the wood work.

[1899b]

Originally Posted by threeforthree

Still shoot the exact rifle...buddies always said you bringing the Mexican wallet again because of the wood work.

Now that you mention it, when i was a kid back in 84 my folks took us to California. Hopped over to Tijuana one day and i remember my Dad buying a large scabbard with leather tooling that looked just like that Rem 760 stock. LOL

[Flight01]

My dads Remington 700 BDL in 308win